An Indian national accused of drug smuggling, who had earlier escaped from a prison in Nepal during violent Gen Z-led protests, was arrested on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The accused, Dharmesh Chunara, had been on the run since his dramatic escape last year and was finally traced to the Kagadapith area of the city, where he had been hiding at the residence of his mother-in-law, who is reportedly involved in bootlegging activities.
Chunara had been arrested last year at Kathmandu Airport while allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of hybrid ganja into Nepal from Bangkok. The seized contraband was estimated to be worth nearly ₹13 crore. Following his arrest, he was lodged in a Nepalese prison to face legal proceedings related to international drug trafficking.
However, Chunara managed to escape custody amid widespread unrest in Nepal, triggered by what came to be known as the Gen Z protests. During this period, large numbers of local youths stormed several government institutions, including prisons. Taking advantage of the chaos, Chunara fled the jail and eventually crossed back into India, making his way to Ahmedabad to evade capture.
The protests initially erupted over the Nepal government’s decision to ban certain social media platforms but soon escalated into a massive anti-corruption movement. The agitation turned violent, resulting in the deaths of more than 75 people and ultimately forcing then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. The scale of the unrest severely disrupted law enforcement and prison security across the country.
In the aftermath of the violence, Nepalese authorities compiled and shared information with New Delhi regarding several foreign nationals, including Indians, who had escaped from prisons during the turmoil. Chunara’s name featured prominently on that list, prompting Indian agencies to intensify efforts to track him down.
On Tuesday, after months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch finally located Chunara in Kagadapith. Acting on specific inputs, officers conducted a targeted operation and arrested him without incident, bringing an end to his months-long attempt to remain underground.
Investigations have revealed that Chunara had a prior history of smuggling ganja into India through Nepal and had allegedly built a network to facilitate such operations. Police are now examining whether he was planning to resume similar illegal activities while hiding in Ahmedabad. Officials also stated that Chunara had developed a drug addiction, which, coupled with mounting debts and financial pressure, allegedly pushed him deeper into the narcotics trade.
Confirming the arrest, Crime Branch Joint Commissioner Sharad Singhal said that while Chunara was now in custody, another accused linked to the same drug-smuggling network, believed to be from Surat, remained absconding and was being actively pursued.
Authorities have stated that Chunara will be handed over to a central investigative agency, which will initiate formal extradition proceedings. Once the legal process is completed, he is expected to be sent back to Nepal to face trial for the drug smuggling charges and his escape from lawful custody.
